Art & Museums

1. Siña hu litråtu guini?

   Is photography allowed here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether photography is permitted in a museum or gallery

   Grammar Note

   "litråtu" (picture) comes from Spanish "retrato". Chamorro is spoken in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and is heavily influenced by Spanish

2. Håyi i artista?

   Who is the artist?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the creator of an artwork

   Grammar Note

   Chamorro uses "i" as a definite article before nouns, similar to Spanish "el/la". Write håyi (who) with the å, not as hayi

3. Håfa i nå'an este na obra?

   What is this work called?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the title of an artwork

   Grammar Note

   "Håfa" is the Chamorro interrogative pronoun meaning "what"

4. Håfa na såkkan mafa'tinas este na musé'u?

   When was this museum built?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the construction date of a museum

   Grammar Note

   "Håfa na såkkan" (what year) is the common way to ask "when" in Chamorro

5. Gaige ba i audio guide?

   Do you have an audio guide?

   Usage

   Used to ask about audio guide availability

   Grammar Note

   "Gaige" means "to be located/exist"; "ba" is the question particle. "audio guide" stays in English

6. Månu nai gaige i tenda rekuetdo?

   Where is the gift shop?

   Usage

   Used to locate the gift shop

   Grammar Note

   "Månu nai gaige ...?" is the standard way to ask "Where is ...?" in Chamorro; måno is a different word meaning "bundle" (Rota)

7. Malago' yu' na hu fåhan i kopia este na obra.

   I'd like to buy a print of this artwork.

   Usage

   Used when wanting to purchase a print of an artwork

   Grammar Note

   "Malago' yu'" means "I want" — the standard expression for desire in Chamorro

8. Gaige ba i tour yan i giha?

   Is there a guided tour?

   Usage

   Used to ask if a guided tour is available

   Grammar Note

   Chamorro has many loanwords from English and Spanish. "Guide" is giha; giya is the locative preposition "at/in" and is not a person

9. Håfa oran abren i musé'u?

   What are the museum's opening hours?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the museum's operating hours

   Grammar Note

   "Oran" is borrowed from Spanish "hora" (hour/time)

10. Bunitu este na pintura.

    This painting is beautiful.

    Usage

    Used to express admiration for a painting or artwork

    Grammar Note

    "Bunitu" is borrowed from Spanish "bonito" meaning beautiful or pretty

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